James Barnes, Jr.

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James Barnes, Jr., 87 of Swansea, MA, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, after a long illness. He was the husband of the late Alice Helena (Mongeon) Barnes. Born in Fall River, MA on February 22, 1921, he was the son of James Barnes and Anna L. (Spencer) Barnes. He spent his early years living in Tiverton but lived most of his life in Fall River and Swansea. He was a graduate of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Class of 1939 and attended Boston University. The son of a jeweler, he also trained as a watchmaker at the Waltham Watch Factory. It was there that he met his wife, Helena Mongeon. He served in the Coast Guard during WW II, using his skill with clocks to maintain the mechanisms of New England's Lighthouses during his enlistment.
After the war, he worked as the proprietor of Barnes Brothers Jewelers, a retail jewelry store originally located on South Main Street in Fall River by the old Plaza Theater and which later moved to another location on South Main Street next to the Center Theater. After the store was closed in 1964, he worked for a number of jewelry retailers in Rhode Island and Connecticut before finishing his career with the former James Kaplan Jewelers in Cranston, RI. After moving to Swansea in the early 1950s, Jim was active in the town Little League and was also instrumental in establishing a Babe Ruth League for the town. The family briefly lived in Connecticut before returning to Swansea in 1968. For most of his work life, the time demands of the retail jewelry industry meant most of his spare time was spent with family. In his retirement years, he continued to enjoy travel, being a sports fan and scratching lottery tickets. He was a lifelong baseball enthusiast and steam train buff. Jim was a devoted caregiver to his wife during her battle with Alzheimer's disease.
He is survived by three sons, James Barnes of Providence, RI, Bruce Barnes of New Bedford, MA and Wayne Barnes of East Providence, RI; daughters-in-law, Barbara, Victoria, Kathleen and Catherine Fortier-Barnes and a grandson, David Barnes. He had four sisters: Violet, June, Fern and Beverley and a brother Joseph, all deceased. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM in the AUCLAIR FUNERAL HOME, 690 So. Main St., Fall River. Visitation, Friday 5:00 to 8:00 PM. LARGE PARKING AREA AND BARRIER-FREE ENTRANCE at the rear of funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Assn., 311 Arsenal St., Watertown MA 02472.